WASHINGTON -- A Muskegon native will have a front row seat to history on Monday when President Barack Obama is inaugurated for his second term.

Master Sergeant David Haglund, a trumpeter and cornetist, is gearing up for the inauguration as a member of “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band.

Marine Band trumpeter/cornetist Master Sgt. David Haglund will be performing with the Marine Band at President Obama's second inauguration.U.S. Marine Band Public Affairs

“There’s a lot involved, especially the week prior (including) marching rehearsals,” Hagland said. “It’s a fun week. We only do it once every four years so it’s a pretty big deal and a big stage to play on.”

Haglund began learning to play the trumpet at age 10.

“I started playing the trumpet in the fifth grade at Oakview Elementary School over on the east side of the city,” Hagland said.

He continued in school music programs throughout the rest of his elementary and junior high school career, which he describes as “a great experience.”

But it wasn’t until he entered the music program at Muskegon High School that everything crystallized and he realized that music was what he wanted to keep doing for the rest of his life. While playing for the high school band he went on a couple trips to national festivals, where the band performed very well.

“I enjoyed my role within that group and (realized) that was something that I wanted to continue to do after high school – like doing well on a sports team and you want to continue to have that success on the next level,” said Haglund.

After graduating from Muskegon High School in 1982, he attended Western Michigan University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in music in 1987. At Western, he studied trumpet under music professor Stephen Jones, a two-time president of the International Trumpet Guild.

“He always taught me the value of being well prepared and how to practice in such a way that you are prepared to perform and play well,” Haglund saidof Jones.

Haglund served as the band director at Garden City High School in Garden City and as a trumpet instructor and director of bands at Northern Michigan University in Marquette before auditioning and being chosen for “The President’s Own” in 1992.

“It’s an audition situation similar to joining a symphony orchestra," Haglund said. “They have an open audition when there are spots open. It’s behind a screen so they can’t see the people playing. Once you’re chosen you enlist. You pass the audition first and then you’re invited to join the Marine Corps.”

The day of Haglund’s successful audition there were more than 50 people auditioning for two coveted spots on the storied Marine Corps band that is a part of America's national heritage stretching back to 1798.

“It’s a very competitive job,” Haglund said. "It’s been that way ever since I‘ve been in. The Marine Band has always been considered one of the best bands to be a part of – all of the bands in DC are fine – but ours is very interesting because of our history with the White House.”

Standards are very demanding for members of the Marine Band, which plays frequently for the president and heads of state at the White House. That means part of the job requirement for Haglund and the other musicians is to keep playing at a high level of excellence.

Even though he has played for dignitaries and world leaders, for Haglund his career highlight remains playing for legendary composer John Williams when he guest conducted the Marine Band for their 210th anniversary concert.

“He’s a very important film composer,” Haglund said. “A lot of his music is recognizable by everybody. It’s not just Star Wars. His music lends itself to be played by bands.”

Haglund says he is feeling “more excited than nervous” about playing on the huge national stage on Monday. The inauguration will be Haglund’s sixth presidential inauguration since Bill Clinton took office back in 1992.

“It’s a very long day,” Haglund said. “It starts out very early, but you definitely have the feeling that you’re part of something big and very important based on the sheer crowds that are around you all day. You get basically a front row seat to all the events of the day.”

Haglund has been through this five times before so he knows how to prepare for the big day. First, he plans to get extra rest. Second, he will be packing snacks for the bus for the longer than normal day. Third, he’s going to make sure he has cold weather clothes.

“It’s an impressive platform that they built out there. There’s a lot going in that immediate area in front of the Capitol. We’ll be playing a lot of patriotic music and then we’ll be accompanying Kelly Clarkson and Beyonce for the actual swearing-in ceremony,” said Haglund. “I think Kelly Clarkson is singing ‘My Country Tis of Thee’ and Beyonce is singing the national anthem. That will be a lot of fun. It’s always fun to see who it’s going to be.”

Inauguration Day will begin at 11:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 with the oath of office, which will be administered on the steps of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. The Marine Band is the only musical group that will be performing at both the swearing-in ceremony and the inaugural parade.